Reciprocal magnetic switch mechanism



Jan. 24, 1967 MITSUJI KAWAl 3, ,7

RECIPROCAL MAGNETIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1967 MlTSUJl KAwAl 3,300,742

RECIPROCAL MAGNETIC SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 5 Claims. (51. 3ss z07 The present invention relates to an improved switch mechanism, and more particularly to an improved switch mechanism adapted to be actuated through the utilization of a slide member which is in magnetic or frictional engagement with a cooperating member or members.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a switch mechanism which essentially comprises a casing having one upwardly projecting end wall, a frame member mounted in said casing for reciprocal movement and having a contact on its outer surface, a pair of permanent magnets partially embraced by said frame memher for unison move-ment therewith, a contact piece mounted on the inner surface of said upwardly projecting end wall and adapted to be engaged by said contact on the frame member, and a magnetically attractive slide mem ber mounted on actuating means for reciprocal movement therewith and in magnetic contact with said pair of permanent magnets, said slide member being so arranged that as said actuating means is first operated the slide member is caused to move in the advancing direction in which said contact comes to engage with said contact piece while pulling said permanent magnets in said direction by virtue of the magnetically attractive action of the slide member and after the contact has engaged with the contact piece as the actuating means is further continued to operate the slide member also continues to move in said direction independently of the permanent magnets while leaving the magnets stationarily and the contact and contact piece in their engaged relation until the actuating means is returned to its inoperative position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch mechanism which essentially comprises a casing having one upwardly projecting end wall, an inner movable member housed in said casing for reciprocal movement and having a contact on its outer surface and a depending rod provided with threads, a contact piece mounted on the inner surface of said upwardly projecting end wall to be engaged by said contact on the inner movable member, a slide member mounted on actuating means for reciprocal movement therewith and in frictional movement with said inner movable member, said slide member having an elongated slot through which said rod of the inner movable member extends, and adjusting means disposed on said rod for adjustably and frictionally urging said slide member against said inner movable memher, said slide member being so arranged that as said actuating means is first operated the slide member is caused to move in the advancing direction in which said contact comes to engage with said contact piece while pulling said inner movable member in said direction by virtue of its frictional engagement with the inner movable member and after the contact has engaged with the contact piece as the actuating means is further continued to operate the slide member also continues to move in said advancing direction independently of the inner movable member while leaving the inner movable member stationarily and the contact and contact piece in their engaged relation until the actuating means is reutrned to its inoperative position.

The above objects and other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the "ice following detailed explanation of two preferred embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of switch mechanism embodying the present invention and which shows when the switch mechanism is employed in conjunction with a main jet control device which is incorporated in a carburetor for a motor car engine in order to control the flow amount of fuel discharging through the main jet;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of the switch mechanism of FIG. 1 in enlarged scale; I

FIG. 3 is a side e'levational view of a modified form of switch mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the modified form of switch mechanism shown in FIG. 3 in enlarged scale; and

FIG. 5 is a reverse side view of the modified form of switch mechanism.

The present invention will be herein explained in connection with an instance in which the novel switch mechanism is employed in conjunction with a main jet control device incorporated in a carburetor for a motor car engine in order to control the flow amount of fuel discharging through the main jet and for the purpose the switch mechanism is conveniently adapted to be actuated by the accelerator pedal of the motor car the primary function of which is to increase the speed of the motor car. However, it should be understood that the use of the novel switch mechanism is not limited to such an application alone.

In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of switch mechanism according to the present invention is illustrated as an instance in which the mechanism is employed in conjunction with a main jet control device incorporated in a carburetor for a motor car engine and the main jet control device has been described and shown in detail in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 703,199 allowed to the applicant on July 9, 1962.

The general construction and arrangement of the main jet control device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 703,199 will be briefly explained herein referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings for better understanding of the present invention. As shown in this figure, a main jet 2 is threaded in a carburetor 1 for a motor car engine at a point adjacent to the lower end of the carburetor and the main jet consists of an inner or base portion 2 formed of steel and an outer or exposed portion 2'' formed of wrought iron and separated from the inner portion. A coil spring is wound around the periphery of the exposed portion 2" of the main jet 2 so as to provide an electromagnet 3. The inner main jet portion 2' is provided with a center main jet bore 9 through which fuel is discharged and a larger diameter fuel reserving bore 9' concentric and in communication with the main jet bore 9. The outer or exposed portion 2" is also provided with a center guide bore 9" which has a diameter larger than the jet bore 9, but smaller than the reserving bore 9'. A metering rod 4 is received in the main jet 2 for reciprocal movement in the main jet and the metering rod 4 has a larger diameter shank portion 4 which is received in the guide bore 9". The shank portion 4' is provided with a flange 6 at the outer end and a wrought iron member 5 is aflixed to the outer surface of the flange 6 by any suitable means. A cap member 7 is threaded on the outer end of the exposed portion 2" of the main jet 2 and a coil spring 8 is disposed around the wrought iron member 5 in a comprised state between the flange 6 and cap member 7 whereby the coil spring 8 may normally urge the metering rod 4 in the forward or advance direction, and accordingly, the fore end of 9. so as to allow a predetermined normal flow of fuel through the bore 9. With the above arrangement of the main jet control device, when the drivers foot pushes down an accelerator pedal 13 (FIG. 2) an electric circuit is completed from the pedal to the electromagnet 3 and electric current is allowed to flow to the electromagnet thereby to energize the electromagnet. The energized electromagnet 3 in turn causes the metering rod 4 toretreat by the electromagnetic traction force of the electromagnet and accordingly, the fore end of the metering rod 4 is pulled out of the main jet bore 9. Thus, fuel in an increased amount necessary for accelerating the motor car (not shown) can be discharged through the main jet bore 9 into the fuel passage (not shown) which is communication wit-h the main jet bore.

The novel switch mechanism by the present invention is adapted to be employed in conjunction with the abovementioned main jet control device for the purpose of operation of the electromagnet of such a control device. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which a first embodiment of switch mechanism by the present invention is illustrated as an instance in which the switch mechanism is operatively connected to actuating means including the accelerator pedal for a motor car on one hand and a rnain jet control device on the other hand. As shown in these figures, the novel switch mechanism generally comprises a casing 15 which houses a pair of laterally spaced permanent magnets 11 and 11. The casing 15 opens at the bottom and has one end wall 15' projecting upwardly of the top wall surface of the casing and a contact piece 12 is mounted on the upwardly projecting end wall 15' with an insulating piece 23 interposed the-rebetween. The abovementioned pair of permanent magnets 11 and 11 are partially embrace by a reversed U- shape frame member 24 with the lower end portions of the magnets projecting downwardly and outwardly of the frame member 24. An insulating piece 23' is disposed between the casing 15 and frame member 24. Although switch mechanism is further provided with a separate magnetically attractive slide member 14 which is in electnoma-gnetical contact with the permanent magnets 11 and 11 and fixed mounted on a portion of actuating means for reciprocal movement therewith. The actuating means comprises an accelerator pedal whose primary function is to increase the speed of a motor car (not shown), a shorter coupling rod 16 having one end pivoted to one end of the pedal 13 at 20 and the other end pivoted at 21 to one arm of an angular intermediate coupling member19 whose apex is pivoted at 19" to a lug 19 provided at a suitable point of the body of the motor car (not shown), and a longer coupling rod 17 having one end pivoted at 22 to the other arm of the angmlar intermediate coupling member 19 and on which the magnetically attractive slide member 14 is fixedly mounted. The other end of the longer coupling rod 17 is supported by a suitable means (only portion thereof is shown in FIG. 1). Although the arrangement is such that electric current is allowed to flowinto theelectr-omagnet 3 only when the contact comes into contact with the opposing contact piece 12 by the movement of the permanent magnets 11 and 11 in the right direction as seen in FIG. 2,

but the arrangement may be reversed and such an alternated arrangement is also within the scope :of the present invention.

In the operation of the above-mentionedswitch mechanism, when the driver first depresses down the accelerator the metering rod 4 may be disposed in the main jet bore pedal 13 with his one foot, the depressed pedal urges the magnetically attractive slide member 14 in the arrow direction as seen in FIG. 1 through the shorter coupling rod 16, angular intermediate coupling member 19 and longer coup-ling rod 17 on which the slide member is mounted and accordingly, the permanent magnets 11 and 11 are also moved in the same direction by the magnetically attractive action of the slide member 14 until the contact 10 comes into contact with the contact piece 12 whereupon the movement of permanent magnets 11 and 11 are stopped and an electric circuit extending from the now contacted contact 10 and contact piece 12 to the elect-romagnet 3 is completed thereby to energize the electromagnet 3 resulting in retreat of the metering rod 4 so as to cause the fore end of the metering rod 4 to come out of the main jet bore 9. Thus, the flow amount of fuel passing through the fuel passage to the fuel passage which is in communication with the main jet bore and formed in a passage forming member 25 which is integral with the carburetor 1 may be increased.

After the contact 10 has engaged with the contact piece 12 and the movement of the permanent magnets 11 and 11 has been stopped, as theaccelerator pedal 13 is further depressed down the slide member 14 is caused to advance in slide relation with the under surface of the pair of permanent magnets 11 and 11 in the above mentioned arrow direction against the magnetically attractive action which maintains the permanent magnets and slide member in contact while the permanent magnets 11 and 11 remain in their stopped positions because the contacts 10 are now in engagement with the contact piece 12 and accordingly, the contact 10 and contact piece 12 can maintain in the engaging condition without being subjected to any excessive force even the slide member continues to advance.

' Thereafter, when the depressive force acting on the accelerator pedal 13 is removed therefrom, the slide member 14 is caused to immediately move in the opposite or retreat direction'by the pedal 13 through the coupling rod 16, intermediate coupling member 19 and coupling rod 17 and accordingly, the pair of permanent magnets 11 and 11 are move-d in the same direction as the slide member 14 moves by virtue of the magnetically attractive action of the slide member 14 whereupon the contact 10 is moved away from the contact piece 12 and the metering rod 4 is returned to its normal position in which the fore end of the rod 4 is disposed in the main jet bore 9 whereby the flow amount of fuel passing through the fuel passage will be restricted to that for ordinary speed driving of the motor car.

FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive illustrate a second embodiment of switch mechanism by the present invention in which frictional traction force is employed instead of magnetically attractive action as in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in these figures, the modified switch mechanism generally comprises a casing 15 having the open bottom and one end wall 15 projecting upwardly of the top wall surface of the casing which is the same as in the case of the first embodiment. The casing 15 houses a U-shaped inner movable member 11' having a contact 10 on the outer surface of one leg portion adjacent to a contact piece 12 mounted on the inner surface of the upwardly projecting end wall 15 with an insulating piece 23 interposed therebetween. The switch mechanism is further provided with a separate slide member 14 having fixed mounted on a portion of actuating means and an elongated slot 14" in its center. The U-shaped inner movable member 11' has a depending threaded rod 11" which extends through the slot 14 of the slide member 14'. A bored seat plate 18 is put on the depending rod 11" and compressive coil spring 11" is disposed around the rod 11". The spring is compressively abutted against theunder surface of the seat plate 18 by threading a nut 26 onto the threaded lower end of the depending rod 11". The actuating means for this modified form of switch mechanism is the same as that for the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the longer coupling rod 17 consists of two portions and the manner by which the inner member 11 and slide member 14' are operated is also substantially the same as that for the corresponding parts of the first embodiment except that the slide member 14 is moved in frictional contact with the inner member 11' and accordingly, the inner member is caused to move by the frictional traction force as the slide member 14' moves.

Features and advantages other than those enumerated will readily occure to those versed in the art, as will many modifications and alternations in the preferred embodiments disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A switch mechanism comprising a casing having one upwardly projecting end wall, a frame member mounted in said casing for reciprocal movement and having a contact on its outer surf-ace, a pair of permanent magnets partially embraced by said frame member for movement in unison therewith, a contact piece mounted on the inner surface of said upwardly projecting end wall and adapted to be engaged by said contact on the frame member, an actuating means, and a magnetically attractive slide member mounted on the actuating means for reciprocal movement therewith and in magnetic engagement with said pair of permanent magnets, said slide member being so arranged that as said actuating means is first operated, the slide member is caused to move in the advancing direction in which said contact makes engagement with said contact piece while pulling said permanent magnets in said direction by virtue of the magnetically attractive action of the slide member and after the contact has made engagement with the contact piece as the actuating means is further continued to operate, the slide member also continues to move in said direction independently of the permanent magnets while leaving the magnets stationary and the contact and contact piece in their engaged relation until the actuating means is returned to its inoperative position.

2. A switch mechanism comprising a casing having one upwardly extending end wall, an inner movable member housed in said casing :for reciprocal movement and having a contact on its outer surface and a depending rod provided with threads on its lower end portion, a contact piece mounted on the inner surface of said upwardly projecting end wall to be engaged by said contact on the inner movable member, an actuating means, a slide member mounted on the actuating means for reciprocal movement therewith and in frictional contact with said inner movable member, said slide member having an elongated slot through which said rod of the inner movable member extends, and adjusting means disposed on said rod for adjustably and frictionally urging said slide member against said inner movable member, said slide member being so arranged that as said actuating means is first operated the slide member is caused to moved in the advancing direction in which said contact makes engagement with said contact piece while pulling said inner movable member in said direction by virtue of its frictional engagement with said inner movable member and after the contact has made engagement with the contact piece as the actuating means is further continued to operate, the slide member also continues to move in said advancing direction independently of the inner movable member while leaving the inner movable member stationary and the contact and contact piece in their engaged relation until the actuating means is returned to its inoperative position.

3. The switch mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which said actuating means includes an accelerator pedal. :1 first coupling rod pivoted at one end to said pedal an intermediate angular coupling member having one arm to which the other end of said coupling rod is pivoted, and a second coupling rod having one end pivoted to the other arm of said intermediate coupling member and on which said magnetically attractive slide member is fixedly mounted.

4. The switch mechanism as set forth in claim 2, in which said adjusting means includes a bored seat member disposed on said depending rod of the inner movable member, a compressive spring disposed around said depending rod with one end bearing against the under-surface of said seat member, and a nut threaded on the threaded lower end of said depending rod and against which the other end of said coil spring bears.

5. The switch mechanism as set forth in claim 2 in which said actuating means includes an accelerator pedal, a first coupling rod pivoted at one end to said pedal, an intermediate angular coupling member having one arm to which the other end of said coupling rod is pivoted, and a second coupling rod having one end pivoted to the other arm of said intermediate coupling member and on which said frictionally attractive slide member is fixedly mounted.

No references cited.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. J. BAKER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SWITCH MECHANISM COMPRISING A CASING HAVING ONE UPWARDLY PROJECTING END WALL, A FRAME MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID CASING FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT AND HAVING A CONTACT ON ITS OUTER SURFACE, A PAIR OF PERMANENT MAGNETS PARTIALLY EMBRACED BY SAID FRAME MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT IN UNISON THEREWITH, A CONTACT PIECE MOUNTED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID UPWARDLY PROJECTING END WALL AND ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID CONTACT ON THE FRAME MEMBER, AN ACTUATING MEANS, AND A MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTIVE SLIDE MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE ACTUATING MEANS FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND IN MAGNETIC ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PAIR OF PERMANENT MAGNETS, SAID SLIDE MEMBER BEING SO ARRANGED THAT AS SAID ACTUATING MEANS IS FIRST OPERATED, THE SLIDE MEMBER IS CAUSED TO MOVE IN THE ADVANCING DIRECTION IN WHICH SAID CONTACT MAKES ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTACT PIECE WHILE PULLING SAID PERMANENT MAGNETS IN SAID DIRECTION BY VIRTUE OF THE MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTIVE ACTION OF THE SLIDE MEMBER AND AFTER THE CONTACT HAS MADE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CONTACT PIECE AS THE ACTUATING MEANS IS FURTHER CONTINUED TO OPERATE, THE SLIDE MEMBER ALSO CONTINUES TO MOVE IN SAID DIRECTION INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PERMANENT MAGNETS WHILE LEAVING THE MAGNETS STATIONARY AND THE CONTACT AND CONTACT PIECE IN THEIR ENGAGED RELATION UNTIL THE ACTUATING MEANS IS RETURNED TO ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION. 